“Each of these players bring great qualities to our team,” said Jesse Symons, Whitecaps FC women’s head coach. “Jenna is a big time defensive player who will be a really key piece to our backline. Marie is a technical player who was a focal point on her college team and will fit in well on our squad, and Marissa and Molly are dynamic attacking players who like to be on the ball and will generate a ton of chances. With our season opener next Sunday in Victoria, we can’t wait to get started.”

Jenna Carosio

Carosio, 22, enters her first season with Whitecaps FC. The Novi, Michigan, native played her first and only season in the W-League in 2010 with Chicago Red Eleven, starting all eleven of her appearances while scoring one goal and recording one assist. From 2008 to 2011, Carosio played National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I soccer at the University of Illinois alongside Mykines. During her senior season, she earned Big Ten defender of the Year and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team. In her four seasons with the Illini, Carosio started 32 of her 82 appearances, scoring five goals and recording one assist.

Molly Rouse

Rouse, 23, joins Whitecaps FC after last playing with Minnesota Kings in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) in 2011, making seven appearances. Prior to that, the Cambridge, Minnesota, native played four successful seasons of NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Minnesota. During her senior season in 2010, Rouse started all 22 of her appearances, scoring seven goals and recording five assists. That year she also was named the team’s Most Valuable Midfielder for the second straight season, and in 2009 she earned All Big-Ten First Team honours. In total, Rouse started 80 of her 87 appearances with the Illini, scoring 18 goals and recording 17 assists.

Marie Yempuku

Yempuku, 22, will play her first season with Whitecaps FC this year. The Honolulu, Hawaii, native last played in the W-League in 2010 with Santa Clarita Blue Heat, starting all 10 matches – including two against Whitecaps FC. In 2009, Yempuku played with Atlanta Silverbacks, starting six of her 11 appearances.

In college, Yempuku played four seasons of NCAA soccer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As a junior in 2009, she earned a nod on the All-Conference USA Second Team, and in 2008 became only the second sophomore in program history to be named team captain. In total during her college career, Yempuku started all 79 of her appearances, scoring four goals and recording six assists.

Marissa Mykines

Mykines, 22, comes to Vancouver for her first season with Whitecaps FC after playing with Carosio at the University of Illinois. In her senior season in 2011, the Spokane, Washington, native started all 24 of her appearances and scored eight goals with three assists, earning All-Big Ten Second Team and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Great Lakes Region Second Team honours. Additionally, she earned Big Ten Tournament Offensive MVP and was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. In her four seasons with the Illini, Mykines started 60 of her 84 appearances, scoring 14 goals and recording 16 assists.

Whitecaps FC play their first home match against Colorado Rush on Friday, May 18 at Langley's McLeod Athletic Park, hosted by Langley United Youth Soccer Association. As in the past two seasons, Whitecaps FC will play their W-League home matches in various communities in British Columbia as part of the Whitecaps Women’s Soccer Series presented by Kia. Find the full Whitecaps FC 2012 W-League schedule HERE.